When I saw this on facebook, I said that the Universe was now complete. This is clearly its ultimate and utmost reason for being. Having accomplished this, we can turn off the lights and all go home. To Oblivion.posted by Eideteker at 12:42 PM on October 2, 2012

A friend of mine was smashed over the head with a bottle by a member of GWAR.posted by stbalbach at 12:43 PM on October 2, 2012 [1 favorite]

You know, I really thought that by adding "see GWAR cover Kansas" to my bucket list that it meant I could be sure I was gonna live forever damn it.posted by BigHeartedGuy at 12:48 PM on October 2, 2012 [4 favorites]

A friend of mine was very connected in the punk scene in Cleveland during the 80s and 90s. One year he was having a Halloween party at his house, and one of his friends mentioned that GWAR was playing in town that night, and could they maybe come by after the show? Of course my friend said HELL YES!, so the GWAR crew showed up (sans makeup) and got wasted. He said he remembers Slymenstra Hymen (a former female member of the band) kneeling over his toilet, obviously miserable, and when he went to check on her, the exchange went something like this:

"Kansas was a big part of a big part of music where bands were often named after geographical locations."

Chicago is considered the originator of the trend, but it must be noted the band's original name was "Chicago Transit Authority", which they had to change for whatever reason (people were confusing the venues of their concerts for subway stations?), but if allowed to stand, might have begun a trend of bands named after public agencies. (Please note that Pacific Gas & Electric would NOT qualify since it is a privately-owned utility company).

Still, the decline of that trend into absurdity should be the responsibility of America (still not clear whether it was named after the country or the pair of continents), and the continent-named bands Asia and Europe unceremoniously ended that trend. (Although you know a band that tried to name itself Australia would be killed by an angry mob in any Aussie community)posted by oneswellfoop at 1:19 PM on October 2, 2012 [1 favorite]

A lot of Undercover acts come in and sort of half-ass it with a song they don't particularly care about (or, worse, drag the shit out of it), and I was nervous that GWAR was going to just fuck around right up until the guitar started and they just nailed it.

My recommendations from the 3rd season, which was very strong compared to the first two:

(Also, it is exceedingly difficult to get this video to play.)posted by koeselitz at 1:32 PM on October 2, 2012

Yeah, this is awesome and that Promise Ring version of Adele is pretty amazing too. I remember liking the Hall and Oates cover and The Cars cover earlier in the season, too.posted by Joey Michaels at 1:50 PM on October 2, 2012

I can't favorite this hard enough. Thank you Eideteker it made my day.posted by Argyle at 1:51 PM on October 2, 2012

Sweet. Hey, I was going to mention their cover of School's Out!posted by zzazazz at 2:17 PM on October 2, 2012

I favorited this before I even listened to it. The concept alone is awesome, and the execution did not disappoint.posted by mysterpigg at 2:18 PM on October 2, 2012

I love what I've heard from the Fruit Bats (here and elsewhere) but DAMN do I want to tackle the singer and force him to wash his greasy glasses. Maybe it's just the way the light hit them but I can't stand it when mine are slimy, how does he even deal with that.posted by caution live frogs at 2:24 PM on October 2, 2012

Still, the decline of that trend into absurdity should be the responsibility of America (still not clear whether it was named after the country or the pair of continents), and the continent-named bands Asia and Europe unceremoniously ended that trend.

Pantera, George Thorogood and the Delaware Destroyers, Portishead, and Sleater-Kinney are keeping the dream alive.posted by Blazecock Pileon at 2:39 PM on October 2, 2012

This is certainly a fun version for the lulz. But for my money, hearing the original lineup of Hammers Of Misfortune (unrelated Freebird cover) do the song during soundcheck during their first run of shows outside of the Bay Area wins the best COMWS cover award. No known audio that I am aware of exists, I get the feeling it was just a goof-off tune they jumped into to get the levels right. But for the 7 of us there who were utterly in love with their first album, we were freaking out.

Somewhat amusingly, guitarist John Cobett of Hammers Of Misfortune was an early.. EARLY member of GWAR for a very brief period.posted by mediocre at 3:04 PM on October 2, 2012 [1 favorite]

GWAR covers KANSAS. Yes, you read that right.

As much as I respect GWAR and everything they stand for, and as much as i did really enjoy this, I fail to see how it's shocking to see a shock/punk/metal/ANY band do an ironic cover in this day and/or age.posted by item at 3:21 PM on October 2, 2012

Eideteker: When I saw this on facebook, I said that the Universe was now complete. This is clearly its ultimate and utmost reason for being. Having accomplished this, we can turn off the lights and all go home. To Oblivion.

But Skyrim has better graphics!posted by Malor at 3:22 PM on October 2, 2012

an ironic cover in this day and/or age.

I think ironic might be the wrong word. This lives closer to an insulting (to the original song) cover.posted by Joey Michaels at 4:35 PM on October 2, 2012 [1 favorite]

Despite the stated disavowal of geographic rock, the actual guitar riffs are loving tributes.posted by ovvl at 5:43 PM on October 2, 2012 [3 favorites]

So - in my high school days I had friends that were into GWAR or at least in my circle of friends, but I never really got into them (surprisingly considering I was totally into that whole skulls and shit thing)...

So this is really the first time I think I've heard them, and they were much better than I expected.

Heh - my friend's band opened for them during the Chicago Riot fest this year (yes, I didn't go - I'm a bad friend)

Anyways, besides their clear talent (well, not too sure about that singer), my first thought was "Man, the devs at Blizzard need to totally make a custom armor set based upon the GWAR costumes. Those would be sweet." I'm surprised that the Elite Tauren Chieftain didn't have some insane wicked awesome costumes/gear like that and that it would be something you could get as some reward...posted by symbioid at 9:15 PM on October 2, 2012

I'm not sure anyone really likes Gwar,
But this was amusing.posted by Mezentian at 3:02 AM on October 3, 2012

I love this, and I love that thanks to this series I now also know that The Promise Ring has reunited, which makes me all-day happy. I wore the bits out of my Wood/Water CD.posted by 1adam12 at 5:13 AM on October 3, 2012

Lots of songs on the AV Club Undercover have been pretty great, it's worth poking around in for an afternoon.

I still love the They Might Be Giants cover of "Tubthumping." I think it was a FPP when it happened in here but I skipped straight to the song; I just played it again and heard them say that they picked it "because it actually seems like a They MIght Be Giants song already". And you know, they're right.posted by EmpressCallipygos at 8:37 AM on October 3, 2012

Jim Lehrer should show this at the debate tonight and ask each candidate for a response.posted by homunculus at 1:19 PM on October 3, 2012 [1 favorite]

I think they're saving that for the VP debate.posted by Eideteker at 7:14 AM on October 4, 2012

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